Amritsar, Punjab (March 29, 2012): Ten Sikhs are reported to have been arrested by the Amritsar police. Confirming the arrest of ten Sikhs, Police Commissioner Amritdsar R.P. Mittal said that these were arrested under the “preventive measures” of under section of 107/51 IPC.

Sikh Siyasat sources reported that these Sikhs were objecting to provocative activities of Shiv Sena. Shiv Sena activists were trying to burn the effigy of Sikh political prisioner Bhai Balwant Singh Rajoana, who is on death row.

Among arrested were Bhai Mohkam Singh, Convenor of Khalsa Action Committee and president of Sikh organization Sikh Youth Federation Bhindranwala Balwant Singh Gopala. They were sent to judicial custody in the Central Jail Amritsar till April 10, 2012.

Meanwhile, coming down heavily on the Badal Dal led Punjab government for not disciplining the police force, the Sikh organization Dal Khalsa condemned the killing of youth hit by police bullets in Gurdaspur town.

The Sikh youth killed has been identified as 18 year old Jaspal Singh a resident of Sidhwan Jamita Village and injured youth is Ranjit Singh of Pandher. Expressing grief over the loss of life of one person and another seriously injured, Harcharanjeet Singh Dhami and Kanwarpal Singh Bittu, head and spokesperson of Sikh group, claimed in a statement that “after lobbying teargas on Sikh protesters, police opened fire on them, who were gathered outside local Gurdwara.”

“We had talked with many people in Gurdaspur who told us that the police behaviour was completely ruthless”, they alleged. They demanded judicial probe into the incident and suspension of the police officer heading the police party. They also condemned the arrest of Sikh leaders including KAC chairman Bhai Mohkam Singh and several others and described the step as “reflection of failure and frustration” of the Badal government.

Leaders of Akali Dal Panch Pardhani, Sikhs for Human Rights and Sikh Students Federation have also strongly condemned the killing of Sikh youth and police atrocities on civilian Sikh population.

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Who is Bhai Balwant Singh Rajoana?

Sentenced to capital punishment in the case of murder of former Chief Minister Beant Singh was to be hanged on 31st of March 2012 at Patiala. With pressure from Sikhs worldwide this has been put on hold for now.

Bhai Sahib Balwant Singh, a constable, was a close friend of Shaheed Dilawar Singh, a serving police officer in the Punjab Police who on 31 August, 1995 assissinated the then Chief Minister of Punjab, Beant Singh.

Bhai Balwant Singh Rajoana had “openly confessed” an involvement and strongly expressed no faith in Indian judiciary. He refused to defend himself in the court and accepted the sentence. He accused Indian courts for applying dual standards of law and accused Indian system for shielding culprits of Sikh genocide 1984.

In his will, Bhai Balwant Singh expressed desire that his eyes should be transplanted to Hazoori Ragi of Darbar Sahib, visually impaired Bhai Lakhwinder Singh.

He was recently blessed with Amrit, where an Amrit Sanchar was especially organised for Bhai Sahib by the Jathedar of Akal Takht Sahib.